ERG Assesses New Technology in Support of New EPA Petroleum Refinery Rule

ERG helped EPA develop a new rule that requires U.S. petroleum refiners to measure toxic emissions at their fence lines using passive sorbent tubes. Our laboratory conducted evaluations to help develop the monitoring method that will be used to fully implement the rule by 2018.  Passive sorbent tubes are an innovative, cost-effective technology used to measure volatile organic compounds. They do not require a power source and collect samples without needing human intervention. ERG's laboratory also field tested the passive sorbent tube technology at different locations, such as refinery fence lines, natural gas well pads, and urban and mobile source locations before documenting the findings in a final report.